As a highly complex joint, the shoulder is the most common joint in the body to be dislocated or injured. The shoulder joint is made up of the scapula, clavicle, and humerus bone of the arm and is held together by a group of four muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff. This ball and socket joint allows for a wide range of motion, which unfortunately results in decreased stability and increased likelihood of injury.
While shoulder pain can result from a variety of activities, some of the most common causes of shoulder pain include the following:
- Overhead work
- Heavy Lifting
- Using your arms in an awkward position
- Repetitive tasks (swinging a golf club or working at a cash register)
Shoulder pain can be a sign of deeper underlying injuries. If left untreated, shoulder pain can increase in severity, leading to referred pain and/or muscle weakness in the hands or arms. It can also lead to severe disability.
At Advanced Pain Solutions, our doctors are equipped to treat many causes of shoulder pain, some of which include the following:
Impingement: When your arm is lifted away from your body and the shoulder blade puts pressure on the rotator cuff tendons, this results in impingement. This can limit range of motion and cause pain. It can ultimately result in tendinitis or bursitis if left untreated.
Tendon Tears: Tendon tears such as a rotator cuff tear or bicep tear can occur from degenerative changes to tissues, long term overuse, or from a sudden injury. This occurs when the tendon splits, or tears away from the bone it is attached to.
Instability: this can occur from a sudden injury or from long term overuse with repetitive motions. When the ligaments, tendons, or muscles around the shoulder become loose or torn, it results in instability, where the upper arm bone is not fully secure in the shoulder socket. Instability can result in a partial or complete dislocation which can be severely painful and leads to an increased risk of arthritis.
Frozen Shoulder: Also known as adhesive capsulitis, this condition causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder and often results from having to keep your shoulder still for long periods of time, such as after a surgery.
Radiculopathy: this occurs when the pain radiates to the hand, arm, or up the neck. It can result in shooting or sharp pain, a tingling or burning sensation, or even muscle weakness.
Tendonitis: Tendons are the tissue that connects the muscle to the bone. Tendonitis is a result of inflammation in the tendon and most commonly occurs in the rotator cuff or bicep.
Our providers are also here to help you with other causes of shoulder pain, some of which include:
- AC joints sprains
- Overuse injuries
- Shoulder bursitis
- Arthritis
